Meet Our Team

Rick Hatcher, CSEE
President, CEO

Rick Hatcher is the President, CEO of Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism and is a recognized leader in Sports Tourism with 20 plus years of experience in the Sports Commission and the Convention and Visitors Bureau industry. As the President, CEO of Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism, Mr. Hatcher oversees the marketing, promoting and recruiting of sporting events that enhance the economic impact and growth for Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties in Florida.

Rick also serves as Chairman of the Board for the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, which recognizes and honors Florida’s greatest sports figures and events, plus leverages this collective celebrity to promote fitness awareness, education and sports activities among our state’s youth and adults. 

Prior to being named the President, CEO of Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism, he was Director of Business Development for PSA Sports & Event Partners working with several United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Governing Bodies for event housing and site selection for regional and national championships.

During his career, Hatcher has also served as the Executive Director with three other organizations: Lexington Area Sports Authority, the Bluegrass State Games and Tallahassee Sports Council.

Rick has served as Chairman of the National Association of Sports Commission (NASC), as well as serving, two terms on the NASC Board of Directors. He is a standing member of the NASC Leadership Council and a graduate of the Certified Sports Events Executive (CSEE) program. As an experienced leader in the sports tourism industry, Hatcher has also served on the National Congress of States, the Florida Sports Foundation Board of Directors and Connect Sports Executive Advisory Board. Rick was recently inducted to the Sports Events and Tourism Association’s Hall of Fame.

Prior to moving into the sports tourism industry, Rick served as pitching coach for six years at the University of Tennessee, Georgia Tech and the University of South Carolina. Hatcher played three years at Florida State University (1979, 1980, 1981) followed by a stint with the Atlanta Braves minor league system for three seasons. Rick played for Florida State University in the 1980 NCAA College Baseball World Series and returned to Omaha for the NCAA College Baseball World Series as a coach for Georgia Tech in 1994. 

Rick is a graduate of Florida State University with a B.S. Degree in Education.

Contact Information

Office: 772-871-5458   

Cell:  772-342-2788

Email: rhatcher@PlayTreasureCoastFlorida.com

Ryan Strickland, MBA, STS
Vice President

Ryan Strickland is a Florida native with 19 years of experience in the sports industry.  A former student-athlete at Saint Leo University, Strickland earned his Bachelor and Master's Degrees at the liberal arts university. Prior to joining the Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism in 2016, Strickland spent eight seasons with the New York Mets as Director of Facility Operations and Corporate Sales at their Florida Operation. Ryan currently serves on the Sunshine Sports Council's Diversity Task Force, is a Board Member of the Sports Tourism and Events Association (Sports ETA), and is a member of the first class of Sports Tourism Strategist (STS) graduates. Strickland is a former member of Sports ETA's Education Committee.

As Vice President for Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism, Strickland spearheads the marketing, business development and financial operations for the organization. While on staff, Ryan has enhanced the organization’s corporate partnership program, event recruitment, and marketing initiatives. Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism produces measurable results in the recruitment and retention of sports events that enhance the economic impact and growth for Indian River, St Lucie and Martin Counties in Florida. 

Contact Information

Office: 772-871-5458

Cell: 772-380-6221

Email: rstrickland@PlayTreasureCoastFlorida.com

Kevin Green

Director of Events

Kevin Greene joined Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism in April 2017. His responsibilities include management of the grant program, managing social media platforms, and assisting rights holders with securing venues and hotel accommodations for their events.

Prior to joining the Sports Commission, Kevin worked as an intern for the Fayetteville SwampDogs of the Coastal Plains Collegiate Summer Baseball League, developing ticket sales, game day operations, and sponsorship for the organization. Greene also served as a Guest Services intern for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Kevin received a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from Flagler College.

Contact Information

Office: 772-871-5458   

Cell: 772-370-5822

Email: kgreene@PlayTreasureCoastFlorida.com